DAMAGE TO RAILWAY RAILS CAUSED BY EXPLOITATION

In modern railway exploitation rails are submitted to a constant increase of speed and loading on the vehicle axles and to constant stress increase in welded railway tracks. Therefore, modern railway rails production technology and exploitation in European Community have require a new philosophy and content for the proposals of new European standards for the manufacturing and delivery of railway rails (series pr EN 13674 and other recommendations). In this paper an overlook over the new requirements mainly given in EN 13674-1/2004, the criteria for the selection of steel grade and the valuation of damages to railway rails caused by exploitation especially on the head of rails are given.